Driving mechanism



T. A. GRIFFITH.

DRIVING MECHANiSM.

APPLxcATloN man [JmL-9, 1919.

Patenweb. 7, 1922.

W1 TNESS: /4

A TTORNE Y.

THOMAS A. snnrrrmor xnNsAsfcITv, Missionar] To all whom-,t mag/concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS 1A. GIFFITH;

a citizen of the United States, residing'at Kansas City, in the county of Jacksonand State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Driving Mechanism, of which the following is a `specification. My invention. relatesto driving mecha-V nisms for self-pr opelled vehicles such as-automobiles, trucks, etc., .and the invention pertains more particularly to the'differential whereby power is transmitted'from the propeller shaft to the rear axle shafts ofthe vehicle.. H l.

Oneobje'ctof Vthe invention isto providea new driving mechanism which will transmit power more efficiently and redu'celwear and distribute the stresses more uniformly over the different parts of the mechanism than heretofore.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in order that said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: .Y

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the driving mechanism with the differential housing in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of two driv-Y ing wheels forming a part of the invention,

with associated elementsin plan view.

Fig.` 3 is a vertical section of the driving mechanism and associated parts.

y Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the antifriction rollers. A

Referring now in detail to the various parts, 1 designates a drive shaft corresponding to the propeller shaft of an automobile or truck. Said shaft 1 is journaled in antifriction bearings A mounted in the differential housing B. D and E designate a pair of independent axle shafts journaled in antifriction bear# ings G and II mounted in the differential housing' B.

4 designates the drive worm keyed or otherwise xedlymounted upon the shaft 1,

which latter is provided with end-thrust bearings C interposed between the'ends of said drive worm 4 and the adjacent ends of the bearings A. l

6 and 8 designate a pair of wheels or disks disposed at opposite sides of the drive worm 4 and loosely mounted upon the yaxle shafts Vstood that when Vit will drive the worm specieationlof Letteifsfratei1t-w.; ,Patented?Feb;f77 19.22.,.` Application filed Decembr 19,1e1affsemaine.'34eme?.A :.f'f i Y. D and lE, respectively. l, Each wheelfisjpro videdv at its side adjacent to 'the rdrlve worm 4 with ian annular series of Vpins 10,1which.y l

maybesecured in any `suitable manner to their 'respecti'vef wheel, rbeing preferably threadedtherein-as disclosed von Figs. '2--and 4. 'Ealchpin 10is-provided with afroller'51-2,l

which, like the pin .10, taperstovvards its inner endand isfheld 'in-place A.bythe jacent-.side ofthe wheel and aA conical shoultapering'the-rollers'12 they have a tendency toY hug the thread or threads' of the* drive worm 4 and remain in gear therewith vinstead toward their outer ends'insteadfof toward 16 and, 18, which are held rmly in 'engagey `dirais-[Orwheels 'etna are prvida at their-'adj acent 'sides with annular flanges ment with each otherbytransverse bolts 20 -k' extending through said flanges and the respective wheels.V The flanges 16 and 18 Vhave Hloearings 22 to receive the studs 24 of.- a

spider consisting Vof said studs and a ring 26, to which the studsI are yor otherwise fixed upon the axle .shaftsV D and E, respectively, to drive the same. The flangesl16 and 18 ofthe wheels 6 and 8, have openings 38 and 40, respectively, to freely admit alubricant to the'enclosed gearing.

With the parts constructed and varranged as shown and described, it will the shaft 1 is in operation drives the wheels 6 and 8. As the wheels 6 and 8 rotate, the pinions 30 therewith which being interlocked with the bevel gears '32 and 34, cause ions 30 will turn on their studs 24 and run over the surface of the bevel gear 32,`thusr permitting it to remain stationaryror rotate at a lower rigidly secured. v The ring 26 loosely embraces the adjacent' endsof the axle shafts D speed than'the shaft E. Likewise` and E, and 'the l be under- 4, which in turn, y

they carry the spider 26 and V1 nm` the same to rotate and propel the axle shafts p l Y ethe differential pin-` p ir" the shaft E meets With the greater resistance in goingaround a corner, the differof the drive Worm .4 and hence distribute feo the strain and vWear more yuniformly than Where the usual driving ring is employed, and by providing two Wheels G and 8, double strength is had and lateral stresses on the drive Worm L are, practically, eliminated. Furthermore, should either Wheel 6 or 8 become disabled While in use, the other Will suf'rice to drivethe axle shafts D and E through the intervening gearing and thus enable the vehicle to reach its destination under its own power.

From the foregoing description it Will be readily understood that I have providedl a driving mechanism embodying the advantagesv above pointed out, and While I have shown and described the preferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of the claim.

IIaving thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: A

A driving mechanism consisting or' avvorm having one or more threads, a pair of disks connected together and arranged. at opposite sides of said Worm, an annular series of pins projecting yfrom a vertical face of each disk to successively engage the Worm and be driven thereby, abutting annular flanges integral with the adjacent sides oi" the disks, bolts rigidly connecting the disks together,

a spider mounted in said flanges to rotate therewith, 

